By: Achmad Mustofa (National Capture Fisheries Coordinator)

Correct understanding of the fisheries improvement program (FIP) among stakeholders at improvement sites is important. Due to the objectives of the FIP, all stakeholders, whether they are in the unit of assessment or outside, should have the same perception of the FIP. This aligned understanding of the improvement program will facilitate the process of mapping the roles and responsibilities of each stakeholder as outlined in the framework and timeline of the FIP.

Recognizing this, PT Sekar Laut Tbk as one of the companies running the FIP towards Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification under WWF-Indonesia's Seafood Savers program held a meeting with all parties in the management of shrimp production in Kotabaru, South Kalimantan. In this FIP process WWF-Indonesia will be the facilitator for a mechanism that brings together all stakeholders to be involved in the preparation of the FIP Workplan. Based on mutual agreement, the company is using upstream and downstream mechanisms as an approach to stakeholders.

Upstream means that the FIP implementation mechanism involves the parties involved in shrimp production directly, while downstream means the buyers of shrimp products. Upstream stakeholder engagement is key to how MSC sustainability principles can be implemented from stock sustainability, minimizing impacts to ecosystems and effective governance.

Stakeholders involved in the upstream include the Kotabaru Regency Marine and Fisheries Service, the South Kalimantan Provincial Marine and Fisheries Service, local universities, Non-Governmental Organizations in the Fisheries Sector and direct fisheries actors, namely fishermen and collectors or miniplan. In addition, the involvement of the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries at the national level and Komnaskajiskan as the authority that has the authority to determine the status of fisheries stocks is also important to do.

In order to build commitment with stakeholders, on August 29, 2017 WWF-Indonesia team together with PT Sekar Laut Tbk conducted coordination with Kotabaru Regency Fisheries Office for the preparation of stakeholder meeting which will be held in September this year. This coordination activity aims to equalize perceptions about the implemented FIPs, as well as to ask for their willingness to become a host in the stakeholder meeting activities in September which will involve all stakeholders at the location.

The Kotabaru Regency Fisheries Service welcomed the plan for this shrimp commodity capture fisheries improvement program. Some things that become the focus of DKP Kotabaru and other stakeholders such as HNSI (Himpunan Nelayan seluruh Indonesia) in Kotabaru, namely the participation of related stakeholders such as DKP, HNSI and others in running the FIP program. In addition, it is hoped that the FIP program can be one of the ways out of the Kotabaru fishermen's problems since the inauguration of the ban on the use of Lampara nets.

""I hope that this program related to environmentally friendly fishing gear can be a solution to the problem of using Lampara fishing gear in Kotabaru," said Mr. Mochran, Head of the Kotabaru Fisheries Service.

While downstream, Intersnack as one of the companies buying shrimp crackers products from PT Sekar Laut Tbk, expressed support for the implementation of this Shrimp FIP. Increasing consumer demand in the Netherlands and Europe for sustainable cracker products has led Intersnack to encourage its suppliers to be able to provide the requested products. Therefore, the company requested that PT Sekar Laut Tbk's FIP be implemented in the WPP 713 area by involving more stakeholders.

Through this upstream and downstream mechanism, it is expected that the PT Sekar Laut Tbk FIP can run in accordance with the workplan developed with WWF-Indonesia. That way, the various supports from all stakeholders will certainly bring success and achieve the goals of the shrimp fishery improvement program in Kotabaru.